Ribbon mechanism for type-writing machines.



E. G. LATTA- RIBBON MEOHANISM FOE TYPE WRITING MAQHINES.

I APPLICATION FILED MAB-.8, 1907. 93 3, 1 86, Patented Sept. 7. 1909.

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Patented Sept. 7, 1909.

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E. G. LATTA. RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED MAR .3, 1907. 933, 1 86;

E. G. LATTA.

RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYP E WRITING MAGHINES.

APPLIbATION mum Mum, 1907.

Patented Sept. 7. 1909.

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E.G.LATT A. RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED LIA n.8, 1907.

Patented Sept. 7.1909,

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5 ll i'znessess B. G. LATTA. RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

. 'APPLIOATION FILED MAR.8, 1907. 933, 1 86.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMMIT G. LATTA, 0F SYRACUSE. NEW YORKhASSIGNQB 0F ONE-HALF TO HARVEY A.

MOYER, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

RIBBON MECHANISM FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 7. 1909.

Application filed March 8, 1907. Serial No. 361,203.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, EMMIT G. LATTA, a citizen of the United Statemresiding at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New .York, have invented a'new and useful Improvement in Ribbon Mechanisms for Type-\Vriting Machines, of which I the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to ribbon-operating mechanisms for typewriting machines of the visible writing kind in which the ribbon is vibrated to and from the printing position 0 )posite to or over the printing .point on the p laten, so as to expose the writing to view except when theribbon is in the printing position,

'l'iheinvention is directed to ii'nprovements in the means for guiding and vibrating the ribbon, for feedingit' lengthwise, and for reversing the direction of feed of the ribbon.

The invention is illustrated in connection with a front-strike machine but some of the features thereof are alsoapplicable to other forms of type-writers and to other writing or printing machine's employing a ribbon.

One of the primary objects of the invention' is to adapt a typewriting machine for the ready production of'writing in different colors-or kinds of ink. To this end, in the preferred embodimentof the invent-ion, the machine is equipped with a plurality of rib- 'bons, preferably two, carrying inks of different'colors or characteristics, which are arranged] to pass the printing point one in front of the other orover the other, as regardsthe printing po nt, through'v1brat1ng guides. Theguides vibrate the ribbons together toward and fromthe printing dsi tion and are adapted to be adjuste 'or shifted to hold one ribbon in positionfor use, and the other ribbon in an inoperative position. .Means are also provided whereby either ribbon can be retained without vibration" in the printing position when it is not. desired to expose the writing after each impression, or both ribbons can'be held withoutvibration out of. printing position when it is desired to use the machine for stencil cutting. Means are also rovided whereby, if preferred, a single ribiion carrying inks of different kinds or colors on separate fields or portions thereof, or carrying the same ink throughout, can be used instead of the two ribbons, and adjusted to place one or the other portion thereof in position for use,

' whether the ribbon be vibrated toward and from the printing ing position.

Other objects of the invention are to furnish the machine with a ribbon shift key adapted by successive like movements thereof to shift the ribbons to first place one and then the other in position for use, or, in the case of a single ribbon, to first place one and then the other portion thereof in position for use; also to employ a separate pair of point or retained in printspools for each ribbon, where a plurality ofv ribbons are used, with a common driving and reversing mechanism therefor; also to provide differential drive gearing for the ribbons whereby the tension on the ribbons will be equalized; also to provide drive and reversing mechanisms of simple, light run-- ning and durable construction; also to provide Inechamsm by wh1ch the movement of the ribbon is reversed automatically by the carriage drivin power'and without undue strain on the ri bon; also to provide means for rcnderin both the-ribbon vibrating and feeding mec-anisms inactive; and to improve ribbon mechanisms in other respects which will be hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of, five sheets: Figure l is a fragmentary central longitudinal sectional elevation (fullsize) of a front-strike ty Jewriting machine provided with ribbon mechanism embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, thereof, in line 2-2, Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a plan viewv of the ribbon mech- =anism, the spools being removed, also showing portions of the top plate partly section. Fig. 4-is a fragi'nentary plan view of the ribbon driving and reversing mechanism,

spools and their ratchet wheels being removed and the top plate and awl carrier being partly broken out to disc ose the underlying parts. This View showsthe reversing lever buckled'to throw the feed mechamsmout of action. "Figs. 5 and '6' are -re-- spectively a fragmentary longitudinal section and cross-section of the reversing lever and top plate, in lines 55 and 6-6, respectively, Fig. 3. Fi 7 is a sectional ele vation, on an enlarge scale, in line 7+7,

Fig. 2, of the spools and their operating mechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal sectional plan inline 88, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a .110

and horizontal section of the top plate, the 1 ribbon is held covering the printing and'the'latter when the ribbons are he fragmentary sectional elevation showing a.

single ribbon withits spool and vibrating guide. Fig. 10 is a -sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the ribbon vibrator and guides. Fig. 11 is a rear elevation thereof, partly in section. Figs. 12 and 13 arefront elevations of the two ribbon guides detached. Figs. 14 and 15are respectively a plan view and horizontalsection, in line 15- 15, Fig. 10, of the vibrator and guides. Figs.16 and 1-7 are sectional elevations of the ribbonvi- 'bratingand shifting mechanism, the former showingthe position of the parts when the low the printing point for stencil cutting.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts;

' in the several figures.

, .Arepresents a portion of the frame of a itypewriting machine, of which a is the top plate, and a a crossbar at the upper or'near portion of the key-board.

- .13 represents the platen, C, Fig. 1, the usual horizontally traveling carriage on which the platen is journaled, c the usual carriage driving spring drum, and D one of the type: bars which are pivoted to hange'rs'on a.seg-

-ment or curved. supportd. In the machine illustrated, the type-bars are each actuated by a finger key or key levers E, and auxiliary lever .e pivoted at one end, connectedto the type bar at the other end and having a curved or cam slot e in which a stud e on the key lever engages. This slot'is so shaped that 'whenthe' key lever is depressed the type-bar is started slowly and itsmotion is accelerated as it'approaches the platen. As shown by the-dotted'line positions in Fig. 1, the t pebar is only moved about one-third 0 its travel by adepression of the key lever, onehalf of its full movement, the remaining two-thirds of the excursion of the type-bar I being performedduring the remaining half of the movement of the key lever.

F represents the universal bar for the carriage escapement. The universal bar consists of a rock-shaft arranged in rear of the .type-bar segment and having an arm f con- ;nected ,to the carriage escapement f, and

arms f Figspl and 2, which are operated reciprocating actuators i through springs The actuators are arranged to be struck and moved rearwardly by the type-bars just before they strike the platen, or when they 55' are in the substantially upri ht position in: dicated by broken lines in ig. 1. By this mechanism the carriage escapement is tripped suddenly just rior to the impact of the type-bars with t e platen, and very great speed of the machine is attainable. The type-bar action, the escapement an its actuating mechanism form no part 0 the invention and are thus briefly described to show the rlationbetween-thesame and the ribbon mechanism to be described later. Any

the same re ation to the other-suitable means for producing similar results could be employed.

The type-bars preferably carry upper and lower case type and the platen is normally retained in printing relation to one set of type and is shifted vertically into printing relation to the other type, for which purpose the carriage is preferably -supported y a'shift frame G which is pivoted at g at the upper rearportion of the main frame and is raised and loweredby a pitman g',, Fig. 1, connected to an eccentric g which is oscillated by a gear pinion gt thereon and a gear segment g secured to a rock shaft g ribbons ass [one in frontof the other, or

face to- .ace in front of or opposite to the printing point, through suitable guides I I also arranged one in front of the other in frontof the platen. These guides are nor inally supported so that one will hold'the u 3%61 portion of one ribbon above the other ri on where the type can strike it and make the impressionswithout striking the lower ribbon, see Figs. 1 and 2. Both guides and ribbons are vibrated together and the guides can be-shifted to thus hold either ribbon uppermost.

The ribbon ides. are preferably supported and v1 rated by the following mechanism: K, Figs. 1, 2, 10, 11 and 14-17, represents an upright vibrator arranged in front of the platen and secured at its lower end to an upright vibrator bar lo which passes through and is adapted to reciprocate vertically in a guide slot is in the type-bar segment between the two central hangers and is connected at its lower end to a lever is? on a horizontal rock-shaft is; Links is pivoted at their rear ends to the top plate a and having connected front ends extending between and pivoted to rearwardly extending lugs on the vibrator, assist in supporting and guiding the vibrator. The rock-shaft over those h for the other ribbon. The

is is supported in suitable hearings on the rock arms 9 of the platen shifting mechanism, so that when the shift frame is raised to shiftthe platen the rock shaft is with the vibrator connected thereto will be bodily raised and: lace the ribbons in substantially platen when shifted as when in its lowerposition, shown in Fig.

1. The ribbon guides preferably have central pointers k k. The ointer of the higher guide normally stan s opposite the lower edge of the scale is on the carriage, to indicate the point for the next impression, and this pointer can be seen through an opening is", Fig. 2, in the vibrator, while the other pointer will be too lowto be seen through said opening 70 L represents a universal bar or framefor operating the vibrator. It passes crosswise of the machine beneath the key levers E-and has rearwardly-extending side armsgl fixed to the vibrator rock-shaft 70 When any one of the type key-levers is depressed to actuate I a type-bar it will depress the universal bar L,,.thereby rocking the vibrator to use the quickest known es capement' and.

by friction in either 7 I ing preferably distorted inshape sufficiently and lifting the vibrator so that the upper ribbon covers the printing point just in ad Vance of the arrival of the type-bar at the platen. The vibrator is thus vibrated 'with the uniform speed of the key lever which is not so rapid as the accelerated motion of the carriage esc'apement univertype-bar or the I sal bar F actuated by the type-bar. By thus using separate universal bars for the vibrator'an'd carriage escapement, it is possible vibrate the ribbon with a comparatively slow motion, thereby reducing wear on the vibrating mechanism and at the same time increase thespeed of the escapeinent by reliev I ing its universal vi r bar of the extra work, of ating theribbon. A suitable spring I,

Fig.1, connecting the vibrator lever'l: to

an adjacent part of theIframe AInormally holds the universal bar L up against the key levers and returns it to this position and lowers the vibrator when the key lever is restored to the .initial position.

The ribbon guides I I, which are shown detached in Figs. 12 and 13, are placed face to face and held against the rear side of the vibrator K by guide lugs m at the sides of the'vibrator, see Figs. 11 and .15. The guides can be shifted up or down in the vibrator to change the ribbons, and they will be held position, the guides beto produce the necessary friction against the vibrator.

I The mechanism for shifting the guidesi-s preferably constructed as follows: M, Figs.

l, 1.0, 11 and 15, representsa small disk which is seated in ,a depression in the rear side of thevibrator in front of the ribbon guides. The disk is pivoted by a screw m" t0 the. vibrator and has two rearwardly proiecting pins Each ribbon therein, the two slots being so located in the ter of said' l k, an

ach pin mt."

\ s' preferably locat d rock shaft .dislrM, which,

connected to the IB Q the fork then lower'pin m I z ee' igs. 12 and 13, has .ahorizontal slotv m? Page ii-position" ofthep I I through the large opening m in one guide and the slot m,- in the other guide-so that by turning the disk one. up and the other down n-the vibrator. m represents a rod or' strip of spring metal which passes vertically between the two central type-bar hangers, being. guided by suitable brackets m m on the segment. This rod, which is laterally flexible, terminates at its upper end in a V-shaped fork m, Fig. 11, which normally stands below the lower of 'the two pins on the diskM. The lower end of the fork rod m is pivoted to the rear ide willbe moved arm of a ribbon shift key or lever m" which i v at the upper central part of the key-board and pivoted centrally to a bracket m secured to the cross bar a. By depressing this key the fork-rod is raised and its fork engages the lower pin on the acting on the inclinedside of the fork, deflects the rod until the pin bears in the crotch of the fork. In the further upward movement of the rod the fork partly turnsthe disk M, therebyimovingone guide up and the other 'down, thus lowering the ribbon which was in position for use and raising the other ribbon in position for use, or, in other words, the ribbons. The fork swings outwardlywith the ascendingspin m and passes the other pin without interference.

When t e ribbon shift lever 77?) is released andlitan the fork-rod are retracted to the normal position by/ the spring m- Fig. 1, strikes the held against assumbut with the first and is mg its central 'posltion,

reversing the position of" upward movementof the vibratorthe pin clears the fork and allows it to spring back under the pin ready to act on this pin at the next upward movement of the fork-rod, to again reverse the ribbons. Normally the fork remains stationary below the pins of the disk and does not interfere with the vibration of the ribbons. Thus the relation of the ribbons can be changed and the new relation maintained by a of the ribbon shift key, or the lower ribbon can be raised for one or more impressions and. the other ribbon again restored by a Second depression of the ribbon shift key.

. As beforestated, the ribbon guides are held adjustedpositions in the I by friction in. the Vibrator. In shiftin the ribbons the vibrator is therefore lifted to its limit before the disk turns to make of movement of the ribbon shifting device "1S great enough to effect-the shift when the. platen and vibrator are ."position forprirltiu' I'Fromthis it w ll- I guides as to be at o posite sides of the "cen- (i each guide has a large l op .osite to, the'slotm pper cas characters.

s it s it a single depression I raised to the upper the shift. The range I that the ribbon,

'shifitd in the 1 sions.

ments of the samekey always place a difierent ribbon in position for use, irrespective of which ribbon is'used. The operator does not have to choose between two different parts, or decide which way a part. should be moved to place the desired ribbon for use,

but has only to depress the same key whenribbon adapted to be placedin the vibrator to replace the two guides H H. This guide N is preferably longer than the other guides and made for a wider ribbon, its object being to enable a single ribbon having two bands. or fields'of different colors or i'nks, one over the other, to be used instead of two ribbons, as described. An ordinary single color ribbon can also be used with this guide when different colors or inks are not wanted. To substi-' tute this guide for the twoguidesl I, the screw on for the shifting disk' M is remqved and the guides raised in the vibrator until the disk can be withdrawn through'a hole ii in the vibrator, when the guides can be pulled out of the upper endof the vibrator. The guide N has a slot n and a large opening a which the pins of the disk M enter.

By oscillating the disk M as before de scribed, the pin in the slot it shifts the guide alternately up and down by successive operations of the shift key. This guide is preferably made thick enough to fit snugly in the vibrator and be held by friction in either of' its positions. It preferably has a double pointer n which stands above or below the scale, according to the position of the guide. \Vhen the single ribbon is used its upper band or portion normally occupies the po-' sition of the upper of the two ribbons H H and the actuation of the ribbon shift .key plat'the upper portion of the ribbon opposite the printing point, so that when the vi-. brator is lifted through the universal bar L the lower portion of the ribbon will be struck by the type-bars to make the impres- Thus a single ribbon with different fields'can be operated in the same manner as the two ribbons and by the same mechanism, by simply substituting the guide N in the vibrator for the other two guides.

From Figs. 1 and 2 it willbe seen that .portions of the two ribbons overlap and only the upper portion of the upper ribbon is exposed above the lower ribbon, this be ing so no matter which ribbon is the higher the object being to limit the movement-bf the shifting device to the distance required to change the fields of "the single ribbon,

and also to permit the ribbons to pass' the vibrator lever k through the'guides with as little deflection from the plane of the spools as possible.

'Fig. 2 shows the ribbons in their normal position with the lower edge of the lower ribbon as far below the plane of the lower spools as the upper edge of the upper rib-' bon is above the plane of the upper spools, whenthe upper ribbon covers the printin point with the platen in its upper or shifte position. A

' 0, Figs. 1, l6 and 17, represents a sliding locking hair or device for the vibrator. This locking bar is arranged horizontally between the two central auxiliary levers, with its rear end supported and guided in a part of the bracket in on the segment. A spring .zstrip 0 attached to the front. end of the,

bar extends forwardly beneath the cross bar a" o'f the frame, having a rearwardly bent part or detent O which bears on the tendingfingerport-ion!) for operating the IockingbarQQ-The detent O is adapted to pressions, 1,2 and 3, in the top of the cross 'bar e tozh old the locking bar in either of sitions. The lockingbar has a leg three O* -W-h1 h normally depends in front of the univei l -bar' L, and a second leg 0", providedlat its lower end with an anti-friction roller, whiclinormally depends in front of an upwardly-extending arn'i or part 7) on This vibrator lever preferably loose on the rock shaft 70 and the hub of the lever has a shoulder which is'nori'n'ally held against a pin p on the rock-shaft by a spring 79 see Fig. 3. This spring is stronger than the retracting spring Z for the vibrator lever so that the lever is caused tooscillate with the rock shaft when the universal bar is operated. If'the operator does not careto see the printing Fig. 16. This'places the depending leg 0* over the universal bar and holds the latter top of saidcross' bar,and an upwardly-exdown out-of reach of the key levers, thereby holding 'the vibrator upwith one ribbon stationary opposite .thegpri'ntingfpoint. As the'ribbons pass forwar ly from the guides, all but the last word or two. of the writing can, be' seen. held the ribbon-shift mechanism can be operated as descrihe'dto change the ribbons.

When itfiis desired. to use "the machine for stencil cutting, the locking bar 0 ispushed I rearwardly until lts detent. engages the notch 33 in the cross bar a, asshown in Fig.

1-7, after the universal bar has been depressed, 'as. before, whichU'cnuses the depending leg O? to engage. the arm p of the When the vibrator is thus carriage than if the roller movement of the rock-shaft cannot lift the.

ribbon 'to the printing position. The antifriction roller on the leg 0 of the rocking bar, permits the arm [1 of the vibrator lever to move with less friction in shifting the were not used.

When the parts are thus adjusted-for stencil cutting, the finger portion of the locking bar stands under the ribbon shift lever an b Tllie y P y to thefirst locks the latter against movement. ribbon guides are restored for use pulling the locking bar forward or-second notches in the cross bar a, de-

ing from the top is surrounded" by pairs of spools shown.

'rang'ed between the two spools and pending upon whether the ribbons are to be vibrated or retained stationary in printing position. In the vibrate together and do not chafe each other as in prior. construc' tions, inwhich one ribbon vibrates in'de other. The vibrator and guides are equally adapted for use with two ribbons. wound face to face on a single pair of spools instead of on the separate pendently of the The feed mechanism for the ribbons is over the spools It for the-other ribbon H on a single pair of upright shaftstR R which are journaled at opposite sides of the front portion of the machine in bearings 7' dependplate a. The top plate preferably has depressions 1* forming seats for the spools. The" spools are alike, see

Ifig. 7, and "each preferably consists of opposite disks connected by a central hub 1' which a sheet metal'tube r that serves to space the disks apart and form a core forthe attachment of the ribbon. The

adjacent ends of the spools on each shaft are preferably recessed centrally and each spool is provided in said recess with a bevel gear wheel 1" formed by teeth on the hub of Asmall bevel pinion r is armeshes of the spools.

the. spool.

with the bevel gear wheels r This pinion is journaled on a perforated plate 7'", Figs. 7 and 8, which surrounds a sleeve 7' loose on the'spoolshaft and'has a projection or key engaging in avertical key-r wayv in said sleeve. with or attached to a This sleeve is formed ratchet wheel 1" and is, together withfthe spools, held on the spool shaft by a screw or other device-1": This ratchet wheel is operated to rotate the spools,

its ribbon to thereby automatically equalize the tension pawl carrier 7" vibrator mechanism .de--

scribedtheribbons s in the top plate line. Both feed pawls r M forth with the spool shafts, one of them bering against its ratchet arranged horizontally from the ratchet wheel,

ratchet wheel, and spools its motion being transmitted to the spools through the bevel plnion andgear wheels whichconstitute a differential gearing which permits the spool having the least tension on overrun the other spool and on the two ribbons. Thespoolsare thus preferably geared together to equalize their tension, but the ribbon feeding and reversing mechanism about to be \described' could he used with the spools connected in any other way or with a single spool 011 each shaft; A

beneath the ratchet wheel and carries apawl r which is pressed against theratchet wheel by a suitable spring hidden in the pawl; S' S, Figs.- 1, 2 and 3, represent two horizontal feed levers pivoted between their ends on lugs depending'from the top plate and having toothed segments 8 s'at their front ends which mesh with cured to the lower ends one in front of'and the other in rear-of the spool shafts. .The rear ends vers are connected bya bar 8 of the spool shafts,

rovided with the driving spring drum for the carriage. A roller .3 journaled on a lug on the underside of the o Whenever the carriage 1s moved, slowly turnin the shafts 'inthe opposite directions, as preferably constructed as follows: The spools in i a for one ribbon H are arranged directly cated' by the arrows inFig. 3, when the, carriage moves printing and reversing the motion. of the shafts when the carriage is set back fora new ing held by its of the feedlestep by step to the left inoscillate backand is fixed to each spool shaft gear segments 3 se top plate holds thetoo'thed rackin proper mesh withthe pinion s. The dri ving spring drum therefor turns both spool shafts wheel r toturn said wheel and the adjacent spools,'while the other pawl is held away from its ratchet wheel so as to haveno eflect thereon, by a reversing lever T T which is centrally to the front ends surrounding the spool shafts above the ratchet wheels.

'In the position of the lever shown in- Fig. 3, the circular portion of the loop t is' concentric with the left-hand spool shaft and engages an upright lug t on the tail of the beneath and pivoted portion of thetop plate. The lever has loops t t at opposite I adjacent feed pawl and holds this pawl away while the cone spondinggaart of-the other loop at? is located far enough to the rear not to engage the lug t on the adjacent feed awl. In this position of the lever, there are rotate "to wind and the other ratchet the ribbon" thereon,

. freed so that the ribwheel and spools ar bonswill unwind therefrom. 5 Dogs i pivg 1 :2 ore, the ri ht-hand i 90 a toothed rack projecting up tihro'ugh'a slotand meshing with a pinion s 'which is secured to and rotates with oted onfthe loppedrends ofthereverse lever are -,emleyed forihoiding the" ratchet wheels fronibatikwardt movementiin the return movementsof the? driving pawls '7'". Spring. t3

'Figs. dud-fl, press the holding dogs towar the ratchet wheels. Each dog has an up wheel, as shown at the left in Fig. 3, so as [not to interfere with the free movement of this ratchet wheel. To reverse the direction of feed-of the ribbons it is only necessary to .shove the forward end of'the shift lever (the left end in Fig. 3) to the rear, whereb the left-hand feed pawl and dog are free and allowed to engage their ratchet wheel, while the right-hand feed pawl anddog are held by the right-han'd loop out of operative position. .The'shift lever is preferabl provided near opposite ends with depen ing finger pieces t for shifting it, and also with mclined depressions t below holding screws 25", Figsy3 and 4, depending from the top plate. The shift lever is of spring temper and'when moved to either position, the conical or ronnded'end'of one of the holding screws t? will snap into the adjacent depression 15 in the lever, and hold it stationary. The feed of the ribbons may be reversed manually by these means without additional parts, but automaticreversing mechanism is preferably sc i h Will be pr y described The reverse lever preferably consists of the two parts T T which are pivotally connected by the pivot 27. for the lever but are normally held rigid with each other by aclaw t? at the inner end of each lever-part whichsna s into a V-shaped depression or notch .19 in the other lever-part, see Figs."3 and 5. The

lever thusjnormally acts as a. sin

le 'piece rigid 1ever, and so far as the above jescribed reversing action is concerned, itcould be made in a single-piece. With the two-part lever, however, the operator canfhold one part stationary by its finger piece t" and pull the other part forward by its fin er piece t, thereby disengaging the claws t rom'the depressions t flwhef'eby the lever will be buckled and both-loopedends remain forward in position to prevent-the-feeding action-of both pawls f Thus the feed of the ribbons in either direction, can be stopped and the machine relievedfiithis work when it is to be ilsed in stencil cutting. vThe ribbon 'feed is. restored by simply shoving one of the parts of the reverse lever forward until the two parts interlock." As before explained, 'the universal bar L and ribbon'vibrator can also be thrownout of action for stencil cutting to relieve the key-leversof the work of actua atin'gfthe vibrator. The efiiciency ofthe typef nechanisnr cun"therefore be materially 1' in'creasemwh ch is desirable. The described: I ijibbonq-feed mechanism is inexpensive, posiesanse tive. and direct in action, and causes less friction than the usual trains of bevel gears generally employed for the purpose. The eed and reversing mechanism is equally ada ted for use with. a single ribbon and sing e pair of spools. In the case of a single ribbon, the spools h h together with the interposed bevel pinions 1' are removed from the sleeves r and the single spools slipped on the sleeves, the spools having keys to engage the key ways in the sleeves, see Fig. 9.

The automatic ribbon reversing mechanism is preferably constructed as follows: U U, Figs. I--4, represent ribbons guide levers having uprlght arms arranged adjacent to the spools for properly leading the ,ribbons to the latter. These upright arms preferably have slots u a, Fig. 1,-for the two ribbons H H, one of which slots is above and preferablyin rear of the other to hold the overlapping portions of the ribbons from contact. The guides alsohave a third slot 2& fora single ribbon, when such is used. The guide levers have horizontal portions pivoted at q on the looped ends of the reverse lever T T, and these portions have rigid reversing pawls u*, the ends of which extend down and are ada ted to engage with ratchet teeth on the e ges of the feed pawl carriers r which are of segmental shape, and arms u "to which the actuating springs t for the holding dogs t are attached. The tension on the ribbons tends to swing the guide, levers and throw the re versing pawls -n*against the toothed pawl carriers, but the swing of the holding dogs t is limited by the engagement thereof with the ratchetqvheels, or of their lugs 15 with the reversing lever,and the dog springs t are strong enough to hold the reversing pawls away from the pawl carriers 1' except under the stronger pull on the ribbons when unwound from one set of spools. The one spring t controls both the reversing pawl and holding do When the ribbons are exhausted from tie spools at one end, the slight increase in tension on the ribbons acts to swing the guide lever at the winding spools and engage its reversing pawl u with the toothed pawl carrier, whereupon the pawl. carrier, which is positively moved by the carriage driving drum t irough the ratchet wheel r swings the guide lever forwardly; thereb swinging the reverse lever on its pivot an reversing the ribbon feed in the same manner as when operating the reverse lever-manually. This action is assistt of the reverse lever on'the holding screws t.. \Vhen the reverse lever is at rest, one

ed by the action of the inclined depressions in rear ofits depression; and when the lever is first moved, one screw-moves up the in- .olined surface of-the, depression onto :the

iflat surface of the lever and the upperend port, two guides for separate ribbons sup-' of the other depression is brought beneath ported by and vibratingwith said support,

its screw whereuponthe'pressure of this inmeans cooperating with parts on said guides clined face on'the screw, due to the spring for shifting the guides to change the rela-. action of the lever, will swing thelever andtion-of the ribbons, and a third guide for a complete the reversal of the feed. The single ribbon constructed to be mountedin screw resting on the depression holds the said support in place of said two guides and reverse lever stationary until the action is having means for coiiperation with the same re eated. During the lastpart of the forshifting means for shifting the single rib- IO w rd movementof the guide lever with the hon to different positions, sub'stantiallyas end of the reverse lever, on which it; is pivotset forth. v v ed, its arm u will strike the wall of the 2. The combination of "avibrating sup- 7 spool seat in which it isvlocated and throw port, two guides for separate ribbons"supthe reverse pawl u out of engagement with ported by and vibrating with said supgort' iits toothed pawl carrier. The rearward and normally holding said ribbons in movement of the other 'end of the reverse ent planes with a portion of one ribbon in lever-will clear the other ,guide lever from fl-dvfih f the 0the! i respect to e the wall of the spool seat in which it is 10- printlngpoint, a third guide for a single ribcatcd, so that this guide lever will be ready on co t c to e mounted in dp- I 20 for the automatic reversing operation when P0 n Pl O Sald P-gI j h the ribbons are fully wound on the spools epa ate l' b ns, and a slngle means -con-- above it. The reverse is started by the pull structed for 'cotiperation with parts'on .each of the ribbon 011 its guide lever near the. 0f 581d gu d f g either of Said tWO winding spools,'but the actualwork of shift gu d fl -g t0 different P 25 ing, the reverse lever is performed .by the SWOIIS 011 Sald g PP l h l carriage driving drum, so that but slight wally as P J extrastrain is applied to theribbons. The fifi fi h of v l g 5 B" reverse is effected by the mechanism at the P h gulde PP 'h by nd Y1-' full spools, and there is therefore less strain vbratmg l Bald pp a y re s in which the ribbon acting through the i y d' q g g epo i ion of empty spools actuates the reverse. This is Said glllde k pp hj ib a ly because the friction on the ribbons at the Set forth- V i vibrating guides I I assists in holding the The Comhlnatloh of a l lf P-f LO on the ribbons than in prior constructions yb and a fi g r ky'located at'orjnear 9.5

35 reverse pawl against its toothed pawl car- P guides'for two ribbons l pi hy rier at the full spools, when the reverse goes d l g h Stud PPQ guide into action instead of acting as an addia s ngl r b on Interchangeablew,1th;sa1d tional obstruction, as vwhen the reverse is g the-two l'lbbons qn'- -"'upprt;--

efl'ected at th m t L; and a finger key and connections .for chang The parts of the ribbon driving and re-- ng h -P eitheil'vofsaidlg a t- 1 versing mechanism'adjacent to the spools are the p sulfstahtially as f for located inthe spool seats directly beneath chmblnhtlon 9 m l, I the spools, where they can be reached by P allbboh g a l lt if slmply removing the spools, while at the two. positions on sa d support, and a ma 'u- 45 same time they ar fl' t ll t t d; ally operated 'part for shifting the guide .110

, from dust. The walls of the spool se ts are 1 1 0 9 he other of 'said positions and cut out ,.-as shown at V in Figs. 3 an; 4,'to y mg Wh e l h sam way allow the reverselever with the parts conshlft'the g gi substantlally a S 5 nected thereto to be readily placed in poh n 0 vlb'ratmg psition. i The ribbon vibrating and shifting mechg'. I h, and a finger key acting anism described is not restricted to use l l Xw m d 111 the F y t0 connection with the feeding and reversing move the ribbon guide iii-opposite directions mechanism described," nor to a typewriting l S- DPP i, llb y as et forth.

5 machine of the constructionillustrated-and, ,7.. The combination. of a vibrating sup- 120 on the other hand, the feedin' and rovers port, a'g'uide for a ribbon movable to either ing mechanismsican be used with other' rib-' of O Pos s on the Support, and means bcn vibrating and hifting mechanisms; normallyo'utof contactlwith the supportor The feeding and reversing mechanisms can. guide and acting when moved to chang port, a ribbon] guideion said, support and also be used inset-her forms- 0f machines for relative position of said guide with said sup operating a single ribbon or a plurality :of port, substantially as set'forth'i ,2

ribbons o erativelysconnected to ,a pair of. 8. The combination of a vibrht'ingsupdrive'shal s. g port, a ribbon guide adjustably secured; I claimas ,my n-vention: thereto, a ribbon guide shifting devic'er'l'on 1. The combinationf'of aivibrating supsaid support,- a finger .key, and connectionsi' i i, u i

between said. key and said shifting device for operating said device to shift the ribbon guide on its support, substantially asset forth. 9. The combination of a plurality-of vibrating ribbon guides adjustably supported, and a shifting device for said guides which always acts when moved in the same direction to change the relative position of said guides, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of a vibrating support, a ribbon guidethereon and vibrating therewith, means for shifting the guide to difierent positions on said vibrating support to cause the guide to vibrate with the support to and from-diiferent posit-ions relative to the printing point. and means for holding said support to retain the guide stationary in one or another relation to the printing point, substantially as set forth.

11. .The combination of a ,vibrating support, a ribbon guide adjustably secured thereon for changing the position of the ribbon, means for normally vibrating the support and guide to cover and uncover the printing pointwith the ribbon, and means for holding the guide with the ribbon over the printing point, substantially as set forth;

port, a ribbon guide adjustably secured thereon, means for normally-vibrating the su port and'guide to cover and uncover the printing point with the ribbon, means for holding the guide from vibration with the ribbon over the printing point, and means for shifting the, ribbon guide when so held,

substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of a vibrating support, a ribbon guide adjustably secured. thereto for changing the position of the ribbon on said support,'mea-ns for normally vibrating the support to cover and uncover the printing point with the ribbon, and means for holding the guide with the ribbon over the printing point, or at one side of the printing' point as desired," substantially as set forth. 5 14. The cbmbination of a vibrating. support, a ribbon guide on the support, and a shifting device and operating keyfor, shif ingsaid guide, said shifting device acting between the vibrations of the ribbon and be-' ing positioned for its next shifting action by the first vibration of the support after having shifted the guide, substantially as set forth. 15. The combination of a vibrating ribbon support, an actuating universal bar for the same; and a single movable part for Tenderingthe universal bar inactiye and retaining said support with theribbon either covering or uncovering the printing point, substantially as set forth.

'16. The-combination of a vibrating sup 1. .5 port, ribbomguides for two ribbons arranged 12. The combination of a vibrating sup said ri on the support and each having-a printing point indicator, and means for shifting the guides to expose one of the indicators and conceal the {other one, substantially as set 1 forth. a i "0 and oscillate said "shifting device to shift.

said guide on saidsupport, substantially as 35 set forth.

19. The combination of vibrating ribbonguides, an oscillatory device which vibrates with said guides and has parts engaging the guides for changing their relative position,

a normally stationary rod whiehis movable 'to engage and oscillate saidolevice, and an operating key or part for said rod, substantially as set forth. a 20. The combination of a-vibratin'g support, ribbon guides shiftable on said support, a disk pivoted on said support and having pins engaging said guides, a normally stationary forked rod which is movable to engage said pins'to oscillate said disk, and an operating key for said rod, substantially as set forth."

21. In a typewriting machine, the. combination of a ribbon vibrator, a universal bar 01)- erated by the finger keys for actuating said I vibrator, a horizontally sliding locking bar which 1n one position engages and holds said universal bar out of reach of the finger keys to retainthe ribbon in printing position, and in another position holds said universal bar and also holds said vibrator with the ribbon out of printing position, substantially as set forth.

22. In a t'y ewriting machine, the combinaion ofa ri'bon vibrator, a universal bar operated by the'finger keys for actuating said vibrator, said universal bar having a yieldingconnectionwith said vibrator whereby the vibratorcan be moved independently of the universal bar, and. a locking device which is movable to place said vibrator with the ribbonout of printingposition and to hold said universal bar stationary, substantially as set forth.

23L In a ty ewriting machine, the combination of a p ralitypf rrbbons,=and drive mechanism for said ribbons including differential earing'for equalizing the tension on fibons, sulistantially as set forth. "24. In a typewrit-ing machine, the combination of spools for a plurality of ribbons, disconnecting. the spools from the other ends and differential gearing connecting said of the levers, substantially as set forth. spools to equalize'the tension on said ribbons, 33. In atypewriting machine, a ribbon substantially as set forth; driving mechanism comprising a pair of 25. The combination of a ribbon spool rotary spools, upright spool shafts'journaledvo driving shaft,'spools'loosely mounted "thereunder said spools,=operative connections'beon, and dilierential caring connecting the tween the spools and shafts located under spools to the shaft, su stantlally as set forth. the spools and above the journals for the 26. A ribbon spool comprising a pair'of shafts, and operative connections between ltL-centrally perforated end plates, a shouldered the lower ends of the spool shafts and the 75 tubular hub riveted at oneendto one end carriage driving means, substantially as set plate, and a spacing tube surroundingthe .forth. hub between the end plates, substantially as 34. In a typewriting machine, a ribbon set forth. drivingmechanism'comprising a. pair of v I '27. A ribbon spool comprising a pair of rotary spools, a pair of spool shafts supso centrally perforated 'end plates, one of said porting the spools, a pair of centrally pivplates having a central depression, a tubular oted levers opera-tively connecting the spoolhub having a head seated in the depression, shafts to the carriage driving means whereb and a spacing tube surrounding the hub beboth spool shafts move, at all times with the tween the end plates, said hub being riveted carriage, and means for connecting one shaft 35 to the other end plate to secure the parts of with its spool and disconnecting the other the spool together,v substantially as set forth. shaft and spool,'substantially as set forth." 7

28. In a typewriting machine, the combi- 35. Ina typewriting machine, a ribbon a nation of carriage driving means, ainion' driving mechanism comprising a pinion driven thereby, a rack meshing wit saiddriven by the carriage driving means, a 90 pinion, a pair of centrally pivoted levers rack meshing with said pinion, a pair of connected at one end to the rack to move centrally pivoted levers connected at one end therewith and a p of ribbon spools 010- to. the rack, a, pair of spool shafts, gears coneratively'connected to the other en s ofsaid necting said shafts with the, other ends of a levers, substantiallyas set fOi'th. i said levers, pools mounted on the hafts, 95 29. In atypewntmg machine, the comb1- ratchet and a'wl connections-between said I 1 nation of a pinion driven-by thecarria e spools-and tl -ie shaftgf-and' means for condriving means, a rack mesh1ng-W1th' e n'ecting and disconnecting said'ratchetand P1111011, a pair of centrally pivoted levers pawl connections,substantially as setforth.

connected at one end to the rack to move 36, I a t itin ma hi ibb 100 therewith, and gear connections between the dri i me h ni m .comprising a pair of i other ends of the levers and the spools'with l h ft ol th reon, power driven means for'alternately connecting and dismeans fo rotating. the pooisyclutch cor onnect ng the spools from the levers; Sllbnections betweensaid spool shafts and said 40 stantially as set forth, A r n d g mechanlsm Q P leverextending from one of said clutch conmg a pair of spool shafts, spools thereon, a j nections to the other and acting when rocked pair of centrally pivoted levers operatively "on it pivot to' reverse the ribbon feed, b-

connected at one end to thc spool shafts, a t ti ll asset f t I 4' rack bar'connected to the other ends of said 37.- In atypewriting machine, a. ribbon J levers'to move the levers in unison,arack on' dri i echa is c rising pair pf said a and a i e pm n m h ng lj hspoolshafts,spo'ols thereon, means for-drivsaid rack, substantlally as set forth, ing thes'lrafts, ratchetand pawlzconnections -1- n a yp j l ng ma me, .a' n between the spools and shafts;--'and aice power driven means, and acentrally pivoted Y driving mechanlsm comprising a a pair of trally pivoted lever acting when rocked @onf rotary spools, a pair of centrally-pivoted -.1tsp iv0tto' withdraw one pawl" from- *its levers opera t-ively connected 'at theirfront rat et and permit the other pawl ,togng g ends to the spools, carriage fi l ingm nsy; the other ratchet,-sirhstantiailly as-set forth, a pinion connected thereto, a Izack'bar mes'h- 38. Inn-atypewritingf-"inachine, a i-sho ingwi-ththe'pinionand'connected" to the driving'mechanism comprising a" pair of1 to hold the rack-in pr per 'relation'to the. and: 'pawl connections be Ieenthe spools and pinion, substantially as set forth;v 5" power driven means, and -centrallypiyotedqQ 32'. In a typewriting machine, aribbon". lever' having-curvedend acting'to holdone."

driving mechanism comprising a pair .of of-the driving pawls out rotary spools; a pair of centrally pivoted ratchetfand'to release "sal-ii pawl and withlevers operatively-'connectedvjat' one endto draw the other pawl 'when'the lever "is rocked the carriage driving-means? to cause both on-i ts1 )ivot,-' substantially as set forth"; v

, file-Vet's to move at all times with-the-"carria 39; In- "a" typewritmg machine, a1r1bbon' nearends of-said levers,- and a roller acting spool ,-means 'fomdriving the-spoolsratcliet 55;;iiid means for alternately'connecting and drxv-mgmechanmm comprislng .apaIr of =1 ee atxwah itsiiza sp'ools, driving means for the spools, connections between the .spools and driving means, and a reverse lever consisting of two parts connected by a central pivot and norf inally held rigid with each other and acting when rocked on said pivot to disconnect one 1 spool from the driving means and permit the movement of the other spool 'with the the spools, and a reverse lever centrally connected to the top plateand acting when moved to reverse the ribbon driving means, substantially asset forth.

41. In a typewriting machine, the coin-J bination of a top plate, a ribbon spool 'at each side of the top plate, ribbon drivin mechanism consisting of spool shafts, an driving means therefor, operative connections between the spools and shafts, and,a reverse lever pivotally connected to the top plate and acting when rockedon its pivotto reverse the ribbon driving mechanism, substantially as set forth. I

42. In. a typewritingmachine, the combination of a top plate, a ribbon spool at eachside of the top plate, driving means for? the spools, and a reverse lever centrally connected to the top plate and concealed thereby, substantially as set forth. I I

43. In a typewriting machine, the com-; bination of a top plate, a ribbon s 001 at each side of the top plate, means for riving the spools, and a reverse lever centrally. pivoted to the underside of the top plate and having a projecting handle at each side of .its pivot by which the lever can be rocked to reverse the ribbon feed, substantially as set forIth.. b1 f 44. n a typewriting mac 'ne a pair 0 I ribbon spools, driving means forthe spools,

driving ratchet and-pawl connections between the spools and driving means, dogs for one spool and simultaneously resto engaging said ratchets for holding the spools against backward movement, and a single centrally ivoted lever located at the front portion 0 the machine for disconnecting oth the driving pawl. and holding dog froliln t e driving pawl and holding 'dog for the otheri spool to operative position,-substantially as set-forth. I 1 a 45. In a .typewritin 'machine, a pair'of spools, ratchets for sai 'spools,'power'-driven pawls for driving the ratchets, reversing pawls' whose positions are. controlled by the ribbon butwhich are'power-driyen forrdisconnecting the driving pawls from the ratchets, andqa'. connection between said driving awls and fcontrolled by said reversing pawls y which' one'of thedriving pawls is moved driving means for'reversing the feed of the spools ,.-a 'reversing'pa'wl adjacent to each of said parts and adapted to be moved into operative contact therewith by the tension of the ribbon, and a connection between said reversing pawls causing them' to act alter nately to reverse the ribbon feed,'substantially as set forth.

47 In a typewriting machine, a pair of spools, power-driven means for rotating the spools, a toothed reversing .device for each spool driven by said power-driven means,

a pair of reversing pawls controlledby the ribbon to act on said toothed reversin devices, and a lever actuated by either 0 said reversing pawls to position the other reyersing pawl 11). position to englage its toothed reversing device, substantia y as set forth.-

48. In a typewriting machine,a pair of shafts, a pair of ribbon spools, power-driven means for rotating saidshafts, a ratchet and pawl connection between each spool and one shaft, a reversing pawl for engagement with a part connected to each shaft, and areversing lever connecting said reversing pawls and pivotally supporting the same,

substantially as set forth. I 4

49. In a typewriting machine, a pair of shafts, a pair of ribbon s ools, power-driven means for rotating sai shafts, a ratchet and pawl connection between each spool and one shaft, a holding versing awl for enga ement with a art connected to each shaft, and a reverging lever supporting both the holdin and reversin pawls, substantially as set orth.

'. 50. n a typewriting machine, a pair of pawl to prevent backward movement'of each ratchet, a reshafts, apair of spools, power-driven means for rotatin .said shafts, a ratchet and awl connection etween each spool and one s Yaft, a holding pawl to prevent backward movement of each ratchet, a reversing pawl adjacent thereto, a spring connecting each holding p'awhto the adjacent reversing pawl, nd -means 'for operating said reversing awls, substantially as set forth.

' 51., In a typewriting machine, a pair of spools, power-driven means for rotating the spools, ratchet and pawl connections be- .tween the spools and said driven means, a pair of combined ribbon guides and reversing pawls thrown into action by increased tension on the ribbon, and connections between said pawlsand said driven means forcausin said ower-dri ven meansito reverse the feed ,0 theribbon, substantially as set forth.

52 In atypewriting machine, a pair; of spools, power-driven means forrotatmg the said toothed Bart after having reversed the hon until after the other pawl.

53. a typewriting machine, a pair of spools,=power"driven means for rotating the spools, "independent clutch connections between each spool and said power driv'en means, and automatic means for reversing the feed of theribbon by the power driven means'said automatic means being caused to act by the increased tension of the ribbon at the winding spool,substantially as set forth. p v y 54.111 a typewriting machine, a pair of spools, power-driven means for rotatmg the spools, independent clutch connections between each spooljand said power-driven means, a reverse lev'r centrally pivoted between the spools, andspring detents located at opposite sides of the lever pivot, and actiii.

ing alternately on the'lever as it is rocked on itsp'ivot, substantially as set forth.

55.- In a typewritingmachine, a pair of ribbon spools, power driven means for rotating the spools, independent clutch connections between the spools and said powerdriven means for positively driving either.

one of said spools, and means for disconnect-- ing said, power-driven means from both spools and causing both spools to remain idle, substantiallyas set forth.

56. In a typewriting machine, a pair of. ribbon spools, power driven means for'rotating the spools, independent clutch connections' between the spools and said driven means, means for vibrating the ribbon to and from the printing point, and means for rendering both the power-driven rotating means and vibrating stantially as set forth.

Vgitness my hand, this 1st day of 'March, 190 s a 4 EMMIT' G. LATTA.

Witnesses:

FRANK E; REID, CHESTER W. REID.

means inactive, sub-' 

